5 Drugstore Beauty Must-Haves
- Adhithi Narayanan
- Aug 1, 2015
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 18, 2020
Being a college student that enjoys the finer things in life, I'm all about “ballin’ on a budget.” I have an arsenal of drugstore products that I initially purchased because I couldn’t afford their pricier, name-brand counterparts. But over the years, a lot of these products have become part of my daily routine, and I couldn’t live without 'em! Here are some of my all time favorites.
Witch Hazel
Witch hazel is an astringent and has many medicinal properties. Among those, it’s great for shrinking pores, fading scars and treating acne and blackheads.
I’ve tried all different brands of witch hazel, but I’ve found that generic witch hazel is perfect for my skin. I purchased this bottle for a dollar and it lasts me for about 2 months.
After washing my face, I wet a cotton pad with the witch hazel and lightly rub my face in upward, circular motions. It always freaks me out when I see how much makeup and dirt is left behind, even after washing my face!
Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturizer
This moisturizer is super rich, unscented, non-greasy, oil-free amazingness.
I once strayed from this stuff and my skin definitely paid the price. I have acne prone combination skin, so it’s both oily and dry and basically just confusing…
But I’ve found that the key to keeping my skin happy is to over-moisturize, and the Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturizer gets the job done.
In the morning, after toning my face with witch hazel, I like to lather the moisturizer on and let my skin absorb it completely before applying my primer.
At night, I apply a generous amount after toning and applying my Vitamin-C Serum. I actually find myself applying two layers sometimes depending on how fast my skin absorbs it!
Maybelline Baby Skin Pore Eraser
This is one of my all time favorite beauty products. It’s a clear, primer-like “instant pore eraser” and it can be worn under makeup or just by itself to reduce shine and minimize pores.
I like to use it as an everyday primer because it takes away all the shine, but isn’t matte, which makes for a perfect dewy look! It also keeps my makeup from getting too oily by the end of the day.
Clean and Clear Persa-Gel 10
Persa-Gel is a 10% benzoyl peroxide (maximum strength) over the counter acne medication. Contrary to the name, it’s more of a paste than a gel. It goes on and dries white, so it’s definitely more of a nighttime product. It’s perfect for those sneaky pimples that haven’t completely surfaced, but somehow grow exponentially overnight.
I’ve been using this stuff for 5 years now, and it’s my savior. I used to be really liberal with the application, but benzoyl peroxide is really drying and I'm trying to avoid wrinkles for as long as possible these days.
I tone, moisturize, and then apply a thin layer directly to where a new pimple is beginning to form. Benzoyl peroxide tends to stain, so I cover my pillow with a towel to keep from ruining my pillowcase.
Dove Refresh + Care Dry Shampoo
Washing your hair daily can be time consuming and can also damage your hair due to continual stripping of its natural oils. Dry shampoo can come in aerosol form or as a powder. It makes it easier to go a day or two without washing your hair without it looking greasy and unkempt.
Dove’s Invigorating Dry Shampoo is my go-to because it smells amazing and does a great job absorbing all the excess oil in my hair. It does spray on white, but it brushes out pretty easily.
I like to spray the dry shampoo into my roots and putting my hair up in a bun for about 15 minutes before brushing it through. This way, it has enough time to absorb the oil, leaving you with refreshed, bouncy hair even on the second day!
(Full disclosure: I can go a full three days without washing my hair thanks to this dry shampoo)
So those are a couple of my favorite drugstore products; what are yours? Leave us a comment and let us know!
Comments